Psalm 51:1-19 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness… I. THE PETITION "Have mercy upon me," etc. 1. Forgiveness of sin is mainly desirable of every sinner. (1) It frees us from the greatest evil — sin. (2) It entitles us to the greatest good-forgiveness. (3) It comforts in the greatest-afflictions incident to us. (4) It sweetens all other comforts. 2. This serves to stir up our affections and desires in this particular. 3. And the sooner we do this, the better. It is not good or safe for any to suffer sin to be festering in their souls, but to be rid of it as soon as may be, and of the guilt adherent to it; by humiliation of themselves before God, and seeking to Him. (1) Confession and acknowledgment of miscarriages. (2) Prayer and seeking to God. (3) Forsaking it and turning from it. (4) Forgiveness of others. By these, and the like means, we see how we may attain to this mercy of pardon and forgiveness of our sins. II. THE ARGUMENT. "According to thy lovingkindness," etc. 1. Here is something supposed; viz. that there is in God lovingkindness and a multitude of tender mercies. (1) Lovingkindness, i.e. grace (Psalm 116:5; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 145:9). Here is matter of praise and acknowledgment. We may take notice of it also in a way of information, that we may be able rightly to discern of God's love and affection to us; we cannot judge of it by His kindness, for that is general and common to all; and there are none (though never so bad) but they do in a degree partake of it, thereby to stop their mouths against Him, and to leave them without excuse. God's kindness is a lesson to us, to teach us go follow His example. (2) Mercy or compassion.(a) The tenderness of God's mercy is seen in — (i.) His prudent consideration of the state and condition of the person who sins against Him (Psalm 103:13).(ii.) His deferring and forbearing to punish and correct, where, notwithstanding, there is ground for it (Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3).(iii.) The moderating of His corrections (Jeremiah 30:11). Severity knows no limits when once it begins; but tenderness puts a restraint upon itself; and this also is in God (Psalm 103:10; Ezra 9:13).(iv.) The seasonable removal; there's tenderness in that also (Psalm 103:9).(b) The greatness of it (Psalm 57:10; Psalm 119:156). (i.) In regard of the object of it. It extends to the pardoning and forgiving of great sins (Isaiah 1:18; 1 Timothy 1:13). (ii.) For the freeness of it (Romans 9:17; Isaiah 43:25). (iii.) For the duration (Isaiah 54:7, 8; Psalm 103:17; Lamentations 3:22).(c) The number and plurality. He has mercy for: (i.) Many persons. (ii.) Many offences. (iii.) Many times of offending (Isaiah 55:7; James 2:13; Romans 5:20; Hosea 14:4; Psalm 103:3). 2. The inference. (1) Our knowledge of God is then right, and as it should be, when it is improved and drawn down to practice and our own spiritual comfort and advantage. (2) The best of us stand in need of mercy in their approaches to God. (3) Great sinners require great mercies for the pardoning and forgiving of them (Thomas Horton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. |
    |